Council continues push for Bike Share regulation

Wednesday 25 October 2017

Council will continue its push to bring together metropolitan councils to develop a regional response to bike share schemes following yesterday’s launch of the world’s largest bike share operator, Ofo, into the streets of Sydney. 

The Inner West is working to initiate a regional scheme in conjunction with the City of Sydney, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra.

Mayor Darcy Byrne said this regional response is increasingly urgent given the proliferation of share bike schemes on Sydney streets.

“Given Transport Minister Andrew Constance has stated he is not willing to put Sydney wide State Government rules in place, then the onus is on us to take the lead and act now,” he said.

“Ofo has already approached Council and in our meeting with them they agreed with us that a regional response to bike sharing was required.

“Certainly basic regulation is needed given bikes had been dumped in parks and up trees," he said.

“It is important that there be one simple set of rules across Sydney or we risk bike-share schemes, which can bring huge benefits, being strangled at birth.

"There are zealots in both the pro and anti-bike brigades but what's needed for bike share to succeed is a common sense approach."

Inner West Council has met with two of the major bike-share providers, Obike and Ofo while Reddy Go also have bikes available in the inner west.

Mayor Byrne said Council will be meeting with Waverley, Randwick, Woollahra and City of Sydney Councils to develop a workable system for the whole of the inner city.

“Our plan is to ensure that Councils come together across Sydney to deliver a consistent approach to bike-share to ensure that it works for everyone” he said.

“We need simple and sensible rules of the road which will protect the accessibility of streets across Sydney, whilst allowing bike share operators to succeed.”